I HAVE always dreamed of going on an adventure trip--exploring the great outdoors, rappelling down a mountain, or sleeping, as they say, under the stars. But being the corporate animal that I am, with a hectic six-day-a-week schedule, I never really got the opportunity to find out whether or not I have what it takes to climb mountains, explore the deep and entrust my life to the elements.
Until opportunity came knocking at my door. As the cliché goes, the world is too small and life too short, so we must grab every opportunity to explore the world around us. And so I did--via the South Luzon Adventure Tour.
Two days before our departure for Batangas, we were briefed on things that we should wear and bring, and the dos and don'ts for the trip: we should travel light, wear comfortable clothes, not forget to bring toiletries (toothbrushes, towels, etc.) and to chew on power candies when going uphill.
We also got to meet trek guide Jocelyn Saw of Real Outdoor Adventure, an organization that caters to people who want to escape the urban jungle, and its everyday stress, work pressures and pollution.
With her was Albert Labrador who also served as our official photographer, Mike Soriano, Choy Aquino who helped us throughout the "ordeal," and Jessie Go who served as our first guide but was later nowhere to be found. (He was probably with another group, or on a rescue mission. Never saw him again.)
There were 10 of us: Anjo, Felipe, Calen, Pinky, Charles, Cornelius, Mariel, Nicole, Ruel and myself. Some were neophytes and the others, second-timers. The highlights of the adventure trip were mountain climbing expeditions to Mt. Dagoldol and Mt. Teal.
I had not gone on a mountain climbing expedition before but I was told that every climb is a new and different experience. That every peak, when reached, provides a different feeling of satisfaction or fulfillment. Now I can't help but agree.
Climbing a mountain can be likened to our struggles in life; every single step, when done slowly but surely, is like going through life's experiences. Reaching the top is like realizing your dreams, goals and aspirations. It's proof that anything is possible; from the top you have a clear picture of your life and how you should handle it.
I tried hard not to be overwhelmed by the activities but guess what? It never worked! The first day was a revelation of sorts. We met at Ford Alabang at 6 a.m. and, luckily, everyone arrived on time. It never occurred to me that I would be assigned to drive the Ford E-150 Chateau wagon. I would have settled for the F-150 Super Crew because of its smaller size, but I backed out when I found out it was automatic. I have to admit, though that I thoroughly enjoyed driving the Ford E-150. I imagined the pleasure to be like piloting a plane!
Not quite familiar with the rest of the group, I found myself drawn to our guide Jo Saw, or Dyosa as she was fondly called by everyone. She appeared so fragile -- slim, about 5 ft tall -- but very determined. I had to remind myself not to be intimidated by her presence; surely, whatever she could do, we men could do a thousandfold better. Again, I was wrong. That was a foolish and self-centered thought. She actually became our guiding light. When I was beginning to lose hope and thought of just quitting, she gave encouragement. She made us laugh with her sometimes-corny jokes. Her sunny disposition, her bright outlook in life, and her infectious smile made me forget the difficulties. She lived up to her name.
Finally, we reached our first destination. Naambunan Falls was like a bridal veil, long and white. It flowed gently and when it touched your face, it felt like soft raindrops. We rested and had lunch there.
Later, after four more hours of trekking, we finally reached what we thought was the peak of Mt. Dagolgol. Standing there at almost 3,000 feet above sea level, at 5:30 p.m. when the sun was about to set, I felt very peaceful. Everything seemed perfect. The orange sun, the wind as cool as ice, made me feel like I'm on top of the world! After dinner, we found our tents had been perfectly pitched. We were all so tired and we just slept, totally disregarding that part of our itinerary which supposed to be "socials."
Just when we thought we had already reached the peak, we were told the following morning that in an hour or two, we would reach the summit. Some of us begged our guides to allow us to just stay where we were. But, what the heck, we were almost there and what was a few kilometers more?
When we reached the top (the true top this time, ha!) there was a moment of silence. We prayed, thankful that finally, we had reached the top. The summit was very different from the place which we first thought was the peak. It was rocky, steep and I was surprised to see grass growing from the rock. They called it magic grass for this was the only place where it could be found. Well, grass or no grass, being at the top was a breathtaking experience.
On the second day, we began our trek down the mountain, then took a road trip to Balai Resort in Anilao where we stayed the whole day.
On the third day, four from our group--Anjo, Felipe, Calen and I--went introdiving. Pinky, Charles, Cornelius, Mariel, Nicole and Ruel missed the fun! Imagine from the top of the mountain to the bottom of the sea. What more could one ask for?
But wait, there was more! Toward the afternoon, we went to Kawilihan resort which was owned by the Angeles family. The resort, which served as our entry point to Napayong Island via a 20-minute boat ride, occupies 48 hectares of land on Taal lake which is very close to the volcano. We went uphill for about an hour until we found a nice spot.
Standing there near the top of a volcano, I got to thinking about what had happened to me the past two days. And now, I was going to risk life and limb again, rappelling 50 ft. 90 degrees down a volcano. What if I panic? What if I the rope breaks? What if ... There were a lot of what-ifs but I went ahead anyway. And I I made it! And, believe me, it was the ultimate thrill--better than sex!
Looking back now, I still think it was the ultimate challenge. The stuff that dream adventures are made of. Mine had finally and unexpectedly come true, thanks to Shell-Citibank Gold Mastercard.
Call Real Outdoor Adventure at +63917-8147686 or e-mail real_outdoor@hotmail.com.
|
